Knowledge Sharing to Reduce Toxin Exposure Risks from Harmful Algal Blooms: Global Networks and Political Barriers

8 pagesHarmful algal blooms (HABs) are a signifi­cant global environmental management challenge, especially with respect to micro­algae that produce dangerous natural toxins. Examples of HAB toxin diseases with major global health impact include: ciguatera poi­soning, paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP), diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP), and neurotoxic (brevetoxin) shellfish poisoning (NSP). Such diseases affect communities globally and contribute to health inequalities within the United States and beyond. Sharing data and lessons learned about the factors deter­mining bloom occurrence and associated exposure to contaminated seafood across locations can reduce public health risks. Knowledge sharing is particularly important as ongoing global environmental changes seem to alter the intensity, location, and timing of toxic HAB events, reducing the reliability of conventional guidance where toxin risks have been endemic and leading to emerging challenges in new settings. Political changes that disrupt membership in knowledge-sharing networks may impede efforts to share scientific expertise and best practices. In this commentary, we stress the importance of community and expert knowledge sharing for reducing HAB risks, both for vulnerable communities in the United States and globally. Considering the impacts of political changes, we note the indirect engagement sometimes required for continued participation in international coordination programs. As an example, we highlight how lessons learned from a Native-led toxin monitoring and testing program (the Southeast Alaska Tribal Ocean Research partnership) can inform programs in other settings. We also describe how in­ternational knowledge is mutually valuable for this program in Southeast AlaskaFunding comes from the National Institutes of Health grant number 7R01ES029165, Prevention of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning in Subsistence Shellfish Harvest Communities of Southeast Alaska, and the T32 Cancer Prevention and Control Training Program at the University of Alabama at BirminghamWith the institutional support of the ‘Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence’ accreditation (CEX2019-000928-S)Peer reviewe